Air distributor



2 SHEETSS HEET 1 l ls L. G. DAVIES AIR DISTRIBUTOR I l l l Ifi l l l lUH Jan. 27, 1953 Filed May 15', 1950 L. G. DAVIES AIR DISTRIBUTOR Jan. 27, 1953 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Filed May 15, 1950 L eonard 6. 0a Wes y ZM 4% Attorney Patented Jan. 21, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE" Leonard Gordon Davies, Great Bookham, England Application May 15, 1950, Serial No. 162,024 In Great Britain October 21, 1948 I 1 This invention relates to air distributing devices for directing, diffusing or spreading an air stream, for example, where it issues from the air duct of a ventilation or air conditioning system.

The main object of the invention is to provide a construction'of such a device which enables the air stream passing through it to be directed in any desired direction, or to be divided into a number of different directions.

A further object is to provide a construction in accordance with the preceding object, embodying two intersecting sets of louvers in which each louver of either or both sets can be turned, independently of the others, to either side of its central position for deflecting the air passing over it and through the device accordingly.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a device for fitting over the end of a ventilation duct;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 11-41 of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a section on the line IIIIII of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale; a

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of Figure 1, and

4 Figure 5 shows an alternative form of slot for the louvers,

In the drawings, the louvers are assembled into -a rectangular housing 6 of sheet metal construction; one side of'the housing 6 has a shoulder I and lip 8 around its periphery by which the housing may be fastened in the end of an air duct, while the other side of the housing has an outwardly splayed mouth 9.

A number of louvers are fitted into the opening of the housing 6, half of the louvers being arranged vertically in Figure l and marked I0, and having a. number of equally spaced notches I I in each facing to the rear, while the remaining louvers I2 are arranged horizontally in Figure 1, with their notches II facing the front.

Both the vertical and horizontal louvers I0 and I2 are similar, and since their notches II extend to approximately half the depth of the louvers, the two sets can be assembled by sliding them together until the ends of the notches II at each intersection meet. For convenience in manufacture the notches II in the louvers are actually stamped out, but their form is of double wedge shape and is, in effect, derived from two cross cuts on the lines AA and BB, Figure 2 having an included angle of about 120. The width of these cross cuts is approximately equal to the thickness of the metal used for the louvers, so as to leave a gap at their intersection of slightly more than 3 Claims. (01. 98-40) the gauge of the louver plates. The material of the louvers between the cross-cuts is removed on the inner sides of the cross-cut intersectio'nsin the form of circular segments, and on the outer sides by transverse cuts to the edges of the louvers leav ing tongues I3 between each notch II and the next. From the two sides of each notch the material of the louvers converges inwardly about midway of the depth of the notch and then diverges to a wide base of the notch to form oppositely facing points I4 which together act effectively as loose pivots for the solid section of the intersecting louvers beyond the corresponding notches. I

When, for example, the vertical louvers of Figure 1 are central, the horizontal louversinterseating them, such as I2, Figure 2 can be turned one way or the other on the points I4 of the vertical louvers, within the limits imposed by the included angle of the cross-cuts AA and BB. The pivot points Id of the horizontallouvers I2 accordingly turn through an are about the pivot points it of the vertical louvers I0. Thus, if all the horizontal louvers I2 are turned through the same angle, the pivot points in them remain coplanar so that all the vertical louvers II can be turned freely from their central positions; but if the horizontal louvers I2 are turned unequally, the pivot points It in them for the vertical louvers I0 will not be co-planar, but the gap between the points I4 is made large enough to allow'for this so that no undue stifiness is experienced in turning individual louvers of the two sets through unequal angles. It is necessary to provide some clearance between the edges of the louvers l0 and I2 and the tongues I4, so that these edges and the tongues may not interfere to prevent both sets of louvers from being turned through substantial angles from their central positions.

When using thin material for the louvers some stiffness is generally desirable, nevertheless, so that the louvers will remain in the position into which they are set, and in constructing the device the thickness of the metal louvers, and the clearance in the notches amongst other factors are chosen to give the requisite flexibility and resistance to displacement.

For mounting the assembly of the louvers I0 and I2 in the housing 6 a pair of parallel rods I5 the notches I6 is bent over to form ears I! which frictionally engage the rods IS on opposite sides. The rods thus locate the louvers, I and I2 in the housing 6 while their position in relation to the pivotal axis of each louver is chosen to give the requisite friction for holding the louvers in the position in which they are set. The louvers can be turned to direct an air stream wholly in one direction, or by, independent settling of different louvers, such as l2 and 10'', the air stream can be split up as desired. Alternatively, the louvers can be outwardly splayed with the ones at the edge at the greater angle so as to act as a diffuser.

In cases where the maximum angle of inclinae; tion given by the notches H in Figures 2 and 3 is not required, a simpler form of notch such as that shown at 18 in Figure may be formed having an included angle of about 90.

The invention is not limited to the particular r. mounting of louvers, using the rods [5 as de- T scribed, and in-the other cases the assembly of louvers can be held in the housing by flanges, or

-by wires orresilient strips of material, fixed across the faces of the louvers.

In the example given, a square shaped air distributing device has been described in which the two sets of louvers are identical. 1 however, the device may be rectangular and have one set oflouvers more closely spaced than the In other cases,

other set.

Owing to their versatility of control, the air qdistributing devices are particularly suitable for installation in industrial premises having hot process plant, where each device can be adjusted to direct fresh air over one or more zones for the comfort of, the plant operators.

Iclaim: 1. An air distributing device comprising a housing, one set of parallel louvers mounted in said housing, each of said louvers having a series 3. of transverse notches formed along one edge the notches of both of said sets having the shape wherein the sides of each notch converge inwardly from the edge of thelouver towards oppositely disposed median points spaced from each in said housing comprises rods, one disposed adj-acent each side of said housing with its ends secured in opposite sides of the housing, and

flanged apertures-formed in opposite ends of each said louvers, the flanges of said apertures being adapted to'bear frictionally against opposite sides of said rods passing through said apertures.

3.. An air distributing assembly for use in air ducts comprising two cooperating intersecting sets of louvers, each transversely notched along one edge, the notches in the louvers having the shape wherein the sides of each notch converge inwardly from the edge ofthe louver towards oppositely disposed median points spaced from each other a distance sufficient to admit an .intersecting louver of the cooperating .set and thereafter diverge towards a wide base of-the notch, and saidoppositely disposed points forming pivotal supports forthe longitudinally con- --tinuous;section of theintersecting louver beyond the corresponding notch, in saidwintersecting louver,qwhich pivotal supports constrain each louver toindependent pivotal movement within the limits determined by the angle between the sides .ofthe. notch.

L'LEQNARD GORDON DAVIES- file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,022,415 Hannam, Apr. 9, 1912 2,034,231 Fox -Mar. 17,1936

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 3.7.1.636 -Germany May 18,1936 

